Tube trimming method and apparatus



H. L. YOUNG April 5, 1932,.

TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1928' 7 Sheets-Sheet l 3 WE s AP15, 1932. H. l.. YOUNG 1,852,831

l TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 6. 1928 '7 Sheets-Shee-t 2 N sg H. L. YOUNG TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS April 5, y1932.

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1928 ww E uw April 5, 1932.

H. L. YOUNG TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 sheets-sheet 4' Filed Aprfil 6, 1928 April 5, 1932, H, 1 YOUNG TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 5,'1932. H. YOUNG TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 6, 1928 NNN NNN @Q ha. NQ.

Apil 5, 1932. l H. YOUNG u 1,852,831

TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7m/52??? EFL/E7 L' yall-77 M, JM? @y j H11 5- Patented Apr. 5, 1932` Unirse; stares,

rarest orifice HARVEY L. YOUNG, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSGNORTO THE B. F. GOODIGB,COMEN'Ly (.E

` NEW YORK, N. Y., A'CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK TUBE TRIMMING METHOD AND APIEAR/AJJUSl Application led April G, 1928. Serial No. 268,045.

This invention relates to methods and ap-l paratus for trimming excess material fromV articles such as rubber tubes and especially to procedure and .apparatus for removing surplus rubber composition froma tubular rub- Vber structure built upon a cylindrical .man-

its vulcanization.

The manufacture of inner. tubes necessarily kincludes tubes of various diameters` and lengths, and in the practice of the above described method it is customary to wrap the mandrel with a rubber sheet of greater length than the maximumrlengthof any ytube to be made `on the particular mandrel, and then to remove the surplus stock at each end lto produce a tube of the desired length, the purpose beingfto avoid frequent changes of stock length `and to produce tubes of uniform end structure. So far as I am aware, the trimming of the tube ends heretofore has been manually performed.`

One of the chiefA objects of this invention is to providean'improved method and automatic apparatus for removing surplus material from articles such as rubber tubes. Another object is to provide apparatus of the character described which will be adapted to operate on tubes of -various lengths and l' ameters. More specifically n my inve'n aims to save time and labor in the manufacture ofinner tubes kfor ,pneumatic tire casings. f Y 1 n Of the accompanying drawings: v

Fig. l is a side elevation of apparatus embodyingand adapted to carry out my inven-V tionI in its preferred form, and the work therein, parts being broken away and in section. i

Fig. 2 is a plan kview of the apparatus shown in Fig. l n Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation, on a larger scale, of the near side of the apparatus as viewed fromfthe right of Fig. 1.'

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-/t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation on a larger scale, of the far side of the apparatus as viewed from the right of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectionfon line 6-6 of Fig. Fig.\7`is a section on line 7-,7vof Fig. Fig.8 is a section on line 8 8 ofFig. Fig. 9 is a section on `line 9-*9 of Fig. Fig. l() is a section on line 10--10 of Fig.k Figli is a section on line ll-lly of Fig.; Fig. 12 isa view of the mechanism shown in Fig. llvat a later stage of operation.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of one end of atube Y after being trimmed according to this invention.

General description Mandrels with unvulcanized rubber tubes built thereon are brought to the trimming apparatus `upon an endless conveyor b"elt from a mandrel wrapping station, said mandrels moving in an axial direction until they reach the proper position in thetrimining device and there actuate kick-olf mechanism which The' mandrelsy are propelled along the traclrway by a pair ofendless drive-chains having mandrel-engaging fingers which permit the mandrels to rotate on their own axis as they move laterally. The mandrel-engaginglingers also actuate` escapement mecha-l nism for delivering successive mandrels from the storage-chute at proper intervals to be engaged bythe propelling lingers'. The

travel of the mandrels carries them'over a pair of spaced cutters which cut` through the subsequent removal from themandrels.

The removal of the surplus tube-stock is effected by mechanism kwhich extends into' the Kickmechanism Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to inclusive, l show at 2O an endless conveyor belt which traverses one end of the tube-trimming` apparatus, and aty another part ot its orbit passes a mandrelwrapping station (not snown) where mandrels, such as th0 ma f 1el 2i wi piped with sheeted rubber conn 'ion to torni a tube thereon such as the tube 22, are mounted upon said conveyor to be delivered to the t rubetrimming apparatus. @ne end of the conveyor belt 20 is mounted upon a pullej.Y 23

secured upon a sha'tt 24 which ournaled in bearing brackets mounted upon the trame- Work of the apparatus, and the other end of the conveyor (not iown) is mounted upon a similar' pulley which is driven in any suitable manner. Between said mounting pulleys the upper reach oi the conveyor belt 20 rests upon a series ot rollers 26, 26 which prevent sagging of the belt, and at each side of the apparatus the belt is depressed and passes beneath rollers 2.7 or 28 to provide spaces where the end portions ot the mandrels 21 will be unsupported so to provide space for the operation ot mechanism tor removing said mandrels from the conveyor belt.

The man'drel-removing or kick-ott' mechanism comprises a pair ot push-rods 29, 29 which are slidablj, mounted in respective upstanding apertured ears 30, 30 secured to the framework of th-e apparatus at the end thereof beside the conveyor 20, said pushrods being positioned at spaced-apart -points and adapted, when actuated by mechanism presently to be described, to be projected across the conveyor. belt, and, by striking a mandrel` 21 at the end portions thereof, push the mandrel laterally from said belt as is clearly indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 6.

The end portions of the push rods 29 are forked and their respective mandrel-engaging ends have rollers, 31, 3l journaled therein, the arrangement being such that friction between the push-rods and tbe mandrel, or the tube 22 thereon, is avoided duringr the kicking-off operation. The other ends of the push-rods Q9 are pivotally connected to the free ends of respective rocker-arms 32, 33 which are keyed upon a rock-shaft 34 journaled adjacentits ends in brackets 35, 35 mounted upon the trame work of the apparatus. The 'tree end of the rocker-arm 33 is formed as a yoke a bracket 33a secured thereto, and a bolt 33o having a square medial portion connects the tree ends of the yoke. The rock-shaft 3i rocked by a downwardly-extending lever 36 which is secured upon said shaft at near end, as viewed in Figs. l and 2.

The lever 36 is urged in one direct-ion, to retract the push-rods Q9 after the kickingotl.1 movement, by a tension-siiring 3T connected to its tree end and to the adjacent framework 25, and it is moved in the opposite direction by a one-way fluid'-pressure-operated cylinder 33 to project said push-rods across the conveyor belt 20.

The piston rod 39 of the cylinder 38 has a forked end which is connected to the lever 36 at an intermediate point, and said piston rod also is provided with a rotatable sleeve 40, (see Figs. 3 and 4) having a determinate angular movement. The piston-rod is formed in its inner end with an axial bore 41 which extends past the piston 42 of the cylinder, and a plurality ot radial ports 43, 43 extend through the wall of the pi ston-rod and communicate wi l said bore. The piston-sleeve also is formed with a plurality of radial ports not shown) through its wall, which ports, when brought into registry with the ports 43 of" the p u rod, etlcct the eX- hausting of pressure-fluid trom the chamber of the cylinder 33, said fluid passing out through the front end ott the cylinder which is open as shown.

The piston-sleeve 40 of the fluid-pressure cylinder 38 is provided with a radial camstud 44 which extends into a parallelogramshaped cam-aperature 45 termed in a camplate 46 mounted upon tlie adjacent framework 25.

The arrangement is such that when the cylinder members are in the positions shown in Fig. 4, the piston-rod ports 43 and the ports in the piston-rol sleeve 40 will be out of registry, and pressure fluid admitted to the cylinder-chamber through a supply-pipe 47, will torce the piston 42 forward to ac- M:

der-chamber escapes, and the spring 3T, bv l ret-racting the lever 36, forces the piston 42 rearwardly to the point ot starting, and the cam-stud 44 is returned to original position by the oblique cam-tace at the near end ot the cam-aperture, which closes the ports 43.

The forward movementof the lever 36 operates mechanism which, among other things, shuts of' the supply of pressure Huid to the cylinder 38 so vthat the return movement of the piston 42 is possible. l

The supply pipe47 is provided with a quick-opening oneway lvalve" 48 which is actuatedl by a vertically-movable plungerrod 49 mountedin theframe of the apparatus andrnormally held in raised,.inoperative position' by a compression' spring'k 50 mounted upon thefrod,y and bearing against a fixed bracket 51 on Vthe framework 25 and a collar 52 on the Irod. The upper end of the plunger rod 45 is provided with a cam-roller 53, and is connected to the framework 25 by a pivoted linky 54 which vprevents angular movement of they rod.

For depressing the plunger-rody 49 to open Y the .valve 48 I provide agenerally-cylindrical cam -55 rhaving twocylindrical portions of different sizes and a frusto-conical intermediportions. The cam 55 'is mounted upon one end ofa horizontal, axially movableA rod 56,y

which is slidably mounted rin brackets 57, 57

upon thetop of theframework 25 over theL pulley 23. Upon the other endof therod 56 is a buHer-plate 58 imposition to be'struck by the end of a mandrel 2l as the latter is The covered mandrels2l` before being moved olf the conveyor belt 20, are lifted therefrom so that there is no frictionbetween the belt and therubber tubes 22 on said man drels during the -kicking-off operation. The

lifting` lof the mandrels is' effected by levers 6l, 62 positioned at opposite sides of the apparatus above the respective depressed portions of the lconveyor 20 and-adapted toy env gageI the end portions of the mandrelstherev on immediately before theyrare engaged by the push-rods 29.v The lifting lever. 62,

which is at the far side of the apparatus as t The levers 6l, 62 are pivoted respectivelyk at 64, 65 in journals formed on upstanding brackets, 66, 67 mounted upon the framework 25 beside the conveyor belt 20, and the levers are connected by respective links 68, 68 to re-r spective/rocker-arms 69,69 secured to a rock-V shaftr70 which is journaled in bearings formedin the upper portionsof the brackets positioned ad- 72,v between the brackets 67, 71, anoutstandf ing lever which has yits middle portion con-y nected bya pair of links 73 to an upstanding arm 74 `formed lon a cam-leverV 75 pivoted lat 76,311 the bracket 71the bottom margin of the cam-lever 7 5 being formed, at its outer end,

with an oblique cam-face 75a. f The cam-lever 75 is' actuatedby a cam-roller 33e mounted` upon thebolt 335 of the rocker-arm 33, the

arrangementbeing such that the cam-lever 75 is raised by the initial .forward movement ofthe rocker-arm 33 with the result thatthe mandrel 2l is lifted from the conveyor-belt f 2O by the levers 6l, 62 before being struck by the push-rods 29. f

e A, storage chute ispositioned at one side of the conveyor belt 2O in position to receive ksuccessive mandrels as they are delivered therefrom, said chute comprising inclined rails 77, 77 mounted upon the framework 25 in position to engage the end portions of the ejected mandrels. i e

F or accurately positioning successive mandrels on the storage chute until they are engaged by suitable escapement mechanism, I provide a pair of L-shaped arms 78, 7 8 which are mounted upon the rock-shaft 7 O adjacent y.the ends thereof and adapted, when lowered by the 'angular movement of said shaft, to extend across the conveyor belt and into the path of the mandrels as the latter are moved onto the storage chute. Aspring-tensioned pawl 79 is mounted uponv each arm 78 and the two pawls are adapted to prevent rebound of a mandrel after it strikes the end portions of said arms.v

A rod 8O is slidably mounted at one end in an apertured block 81k which is swivelled in the free end ofthe lever 72,7and has its y other end portion extended through an aperture in the square medial portion of the bolt 33?), bothends of the rod 8O being provided with retaining nuts. The arrangement is such that in the forward operative movement f of the rocker-arm 33the bolt 33?),will merely i *i slide along the rod 80, but in the Arearward l movement ofk said rocker-arm, before the end y of its stroke, the bolt 3322 will engage the nuts i' on the end of said rod and by actuating the lever 72turnthe rock-shaft'70, with the result that ythe arms78 are raised and the liftinglever s 6l, 62 arelowered and-theway isl cleared for another mandrel to be'brought to the apparatus upon the conveyor/20.

Positivestops are providedyfor limitingl `the movement of the rocker-arms 32,133in ,either direction to prevent shearing-of the i6 ears 30 as shown by the full lines of Fig. 6.

Mamlrel propelling mechanism Mounted along the top of the framework 25 at each side thereof are respective laterally flanged track-rails 82, 82 positioned in continuation of the rails 77, 77 comprising the storage chute, and together comprising al trackway along which covered mandrels released from said storage chute at determinate intervals are propelled and carried past instrumentalities which first circmnferentially score the tubes 22 on said mandrels adjacent each end of said tubes and then remove the surplus material defined by said scoring. The rails 77 preferably comprise angle-irons as shown and thus are provided with sidefianges to prevent axial displacement of the mandrels thereon.

The mandrels are propelled by a pair of conveyor chains 88, 88 which are provided with means for engaging the end portions of a mandrel and moving it laterally along the rails 82 while permitting it to rotate on its own axis. Each conveyor-chain 88 is mounted upon sprockets 8l, 85, and the sprockets 84 are mounted upon a shaft 86 and the sprockets 85 are mounted upon a shaft 87, said shafts being journaled in the opposite ends of a pair of vertically adjustable brackets 88, 88 mounted above the framework 25. The brackets 88 are individually adjustable by means of screws 89 which are threaded through said brackets at each end thereof and rest upon suitable seats on the framework 25. Lateral displacement of the brackets 88 is prevented by the shafts 86, 87 and longitudinal displacement is prevented by a pair of forked brackets 90, 90 mounted upon the framework 25 adjacent the respective ends of the shaft 86 and embracing said shaft to prevent lateral movement thereof While permitting it to be raised and lowered with the brackets 88. T he shaft 86 is driven by a sprocket chain 91 from a suitable source of power (not shown).

For engaging the mandrels 21 to propel them along the trackway 82, each conveyor chain 83 is provided with a plurality of special links positioned equi-distant from each other on the chain, and each of said special links embodies an angular structure having an outwardly extending finger 92 with a roller 93 liournaled in its end portion. A pair of roller-discs 94, 94 are journaled on each side of the chain at the angle of each special link, and on the next link in advance of each special link is a similar pair of roller discs 95, 95, the discs 94, 95 being larger in diameter than the width of the chain 83. As shown in Fig. 11, the mandrel 21 is propelled forward by the fingers 92, the roller 93 there- 1n rotating with the mandrel and thus reducing the friction therewith, and the rollerdiscs 95, which are in advance of the mandrel, preventing the latter from traveling faster than the chains 83 by providing another point of contact between the latter and the mandrel. The roller-discs 94, 95 also. prevent the chains 83 from scraping against the bottom of the brackets 88 when 'the mandrel is raised during the tube-scor- 1ng operation, as shown in Fig. 8. The fingers 92 actuate numerous mechanisms presently to be described.

The storage-chute 77 is of sufficient length to accommodate a plurality of mandrels, and escapement mechanism is provided for holding the mandrels in laterally-spaced positions to avoid chafing of the wrappin gs 22 thereon from contact with each other, and for delivering the mandrels in orderly succession to the position where they are engaged by the fingers 92 of the conveyor chains 83.

Oneelement of the escapement mechanism comprises a pair of lever-arms 96, 96 which are pivoted at 97, 97 on the outer faces of the respective brackets 88, and normally rest upon support-pins 98, 98 extending therefrom. The lever-arms 96 extend forward to a position over the storage-chute 77 and their end portions are bent at right angles to provide abutment faces for engaging the respective end portions of a mandrel 21 as the latter is first moved from the conveyor 20 onto said storage-chute and released by the arms 78. Each lever-arm 96 is formed With an upstanding cam-ear 99 which is angularly bent so as to extend over the upper reach of the conveyor chain 83 and into the orbit of the fingers 92 thereon, said bent portion being formed with an oblique Cain-face 100 adapted to be engaged by said fingers 92. lhe arrangement 1s such that the lever-arms 96 are periodically raised by the fingers 92 to release a. mandrel 21 on the chute 77 and permit said mandrel to roll downward, by gravity, until engaged by a second escapement member.

The second escapement member comprises f end portions of a mandrel as the same rolls loo comprising a knife 132 which is electrically heated by the electrical conductors 133. The knife 132 is mounted in a box-like structure 134 and surrounded, except for its cutting edge, with non-combustible heat-insulating materlal 135 such as asbestos. The knife 132 is disposed parallel to the track-rails 82 and is yieldingly urged upward so as to engage a mandrel thereon by an adjustable compression spring 136 mounted between the slide 127 and the frame 131, with the result that a rubber tube on said mandrel is circumferentially scored and cut through as the mandrel is propelled over the knife. The sur )lus tube-stock defined by said scoring is deslgnated 22a.

For adjusting the knives 132 toward or away from each other in the scoring of tubes of different lengths, each of the slides 127 is provided with a downwardly extending ear 137 through which are threaded respective right and left hand screws 138, 139, connected to each other by a suitable coupling member 140. The screw 138 is formed on one end of a smooth shaft 141, its other end extending through the frame of the machine at the near side thereof as viewed in Fig. 1

land having its end portion formed as a hand-crank 142.

For adjusting the knives 132 as a unit toward either side of the machine according as the tubes 22 are mounted at different positions axially of the mandrels, an externally threaded sleeve 143 is journaled on the shaft 141 between collars 144, 145 thereon and threaded through a nut 146 mounted upon the frame-work 25. Mounted upon the outer end of the sleeve 143 is a hand-wheel 147 bv which the sleeve is rotated to move axially in the nut 146 and thereby move the right .and left-hand screws 138, 139 axially without rotating them.

Stock-removing mechanism The mechanisms for removing surplus tube-stock 22a'l from each end of a mandrel after the latter has been propelled over the hot knives 132 are offset from each other so that one of them engages the work before the other. This arrangement avoids the possibility of causing the mandrel to cease rotating on its own axis because of excessive friction with the stock-removing mechanisms. The latter are positioned at opposite sides of the apparatus, and as they are identical in construction. but one of them will be described.

A pair of parallel supporting angles 148, 149 are disposed transversely for the apparatus, to the left of the knives 132 as viewed in Fig. 2, said angles being supported from their respective ends which are secured to the brackets 88, and have their medial portions bent 1n a reverse curve as shown to effect l" "n mls-alignment of their end portions.

A bearing-bracket 150 is mounted upon the bracket 88 with its journals extending over the angle 148 (Fig. 11), and another bearingbracket 151 is mounted upon said angle at a y distance from the bracket- 150. Journaled in the upper bearing of the bracket 150 is a short shaft 152 upon one end of which is mounted a cam-arm 153 which extends forward over the chain 83 and has its end portion disposed in the orbit of the fingers 92. The other end of the shaft 152 is provided with a gear 154 which is meshed with a gear segment 155 mounted on a shaft 156 which is journaled in the bearing brackets 150, 151. A rock-shaft 157 journaled in the bracket 151 and in the bracket 88 has its end outside the latter formed as a hand-crank 158, and that portion of its structure between the brackets is formed with screw threads.

Mounted upon the threaded portion of the i tion of a forked member 1.60 which is slidahly mounted upon the rock-shaft 156 which extends through its forked portion, and a forwardly extending rocker-arm 161 is adjustably secured on the rock-shaft 156 between the'forks of the member 160. The arrangement is such that when the shaft 157 is rotated to change the position of the arm 159 transversely of the apparatus, the rocker-arm 161 also will be moved so as to maintain the same position with relation thereto.

The long leg of the arm 159 extends forward over the angle 149 and is there engaged by a yielding hold-down device comprising an elongate bar 163 which is secured to the ends of arms 164, 164 mounted upon a shaft 165, the latter being journaled in bearingbrackets 166, 166 which are secured to the angle 149. The shaft extends through the bracket 88 and is provided at the outer side thereof with a lever 167 (Fig. 1) which is engaged by and adjustable compression spring 168, with the result that the bar 163 is normally urged downward against the end of the arm 159. The end portion of theI long leg of the arm 1.59 is formed with a hollow boss 168 in which is mounted a spring-pressed bolt 169 normally urged downward against the angle 149. The arrangement is such that the arm 159 is normally held. in neutral position horizontally but has a limited movemenT up or down against yielding springs. The length of the bar 163 is such that the hold-- down device is in engagement with the arm 159 whatever' the position of the latter.

The arm 159 is formed with a downwardly extending aw portion 1590 to the lower end 7 f" of which is affixed a hardened blade or chisel 170 which extends into the path of mandnels which are propelled along the trackrails 82, said chisel being adapted to engage the mandrels tangentially in the zone of the soa by mandrels which are f the proper size.

tube-surplus 22a and scrape a portion of the same from the mandrel as shown in F ig. 12.V

The length of the chisel 17() is the same as or greater than the axial width of the tube ,surplus 22a. and fthe chisel is replaceable so that tubes having scored surplus portions of greater width may be trimmed. The yielding pivotal mounting of the arm 159 permits the latter to adjust its position when engaged slightly larger than The tube stock 22a scraped fromthe mandrel 21 by the chisel 17 O'is gripped between the latterand a jaw member 171 which is pivoted at 172 on the arm 159', said jaw y171 being similar in sha-pe tothe portion 1596 of the arm 159 and having its work-engaging` end pro-vided with a-replace'able,facing'-178V preferably of the same lengthy as the ychisel 170. The jaw member 171 normally is held in open position withfrelation yto the jaw'159a by a compressionk spring 17aL mounted between an outstandingear v1596 Aformed on the arm 159 and la rearward extension '171er formed on the jaw member 171.l

- For actuating the jaw member 171V at determinate intervals correspondmgto the pasi sage of a mandrel under thechisel 170, said jaw member is formedy with av forwardlyextendlng portion k1717 the end portion of which 1s positioned beneath an'elongate bar v 175 parallel to the bar 163 and adapted to be `depressed upon theljaw-portion 1717).

` and extends upward and forward therefrom and has its free end formed with a lateral eX- tensionA 182 projectingjover the upperfreach of theconveyor chain83 and comprising a cam-face adapted to be lifted by the lingers `92lon said chain to rock thev shaft 177 depress the ba-rv17l)V and thereby actuate the j aw 171 so that itcooperateswith the chisel Y in grippingY .the tube-surplus stock f scraped from the mandrel'21 by the chisel.

` For holding the lever in raised position so that the jaws 159e, 171 retain their Grip 'on the vtube-surplus stock after the actuating fingery 92 passes from beneath the cam-face 182, I provide a latch 183 formed on the lower end ofthe downwardly extending arm of a bell-crank 184i pivoted at its elbow at 185`on a bracket l186 mountedupon the bracket88,' the other arm of said bell-crankvextending obliquely forward and downward to' rest upon the cam-face 100 of the escapementarm 96. The arrangement is suchthat when the lever 180 r1s raised by Va linger 92 its end portionis engaged by the latch l183, and the lever is held in raised position until the linger 92 subsequently engages the cam-face 100 and raises Ythe other arm ,of the bell crank 184k which releases they latch 183l and permits the lever 180 to drop back to normal position, upon a'support pin 187. A. stop pinf188 projecting from-the bracket 186 defines the nor-v mal position ofthe latch 183 while atrest.'

During the interval that the chisel 170 and the jaw 171 grip the tube-surplus stock scraped from the mandrel 21 as shown in Fig-i12, the mandrel is impelled rearwardly and rotates on its ownv axis, as indicated by the broken lines of said figure, with the result kthat the surplus tube-stock 22a is unwrapped'from the mandrel. The' subsequent opening of the jaw 171 is timed to occur after the surplus tube-'stock is entirely removed fromtlie mandrel. f

For positively disengaging the :re-moved surplus stock fromthe chisel 170 to which it usually adheres when the aw 171 is opened,

a vertically movable ejector 189 is slidably 1 mounted in a slotted boss 190` formed on the i arm `159, and has its upper end connected by' a link 191 to the free end of the rocker-arm 161. The lower end ofthe ejector is positioned between thejaws 159(5, 171, as shown A in Figs. 11 and 12 and is adapted to be lowered by saidfrocker-arm to the position indicated by the broken lines of Fig.f11 to scrape from. thel chiself170 any of the surplus tubestoc'k adhering thereto.Vv The lower end of,A

the ejector 189 preferably is substantially the same width as the chisel 17 Oso as to assure the removal of all the stock therefrom."

The surplus tube-stock is removed from the apparatus by an endless conveyor belt 192 upon Awhich the stock falls after being ejected from the stock-removing mechanism. Ther conveyor belt 192 is disposed transversely of the 'apparatus kand is mountedupon end-pulleys193, 194 which are journaled in suitable bracket-s secured tothe angle 125 and vak similar angle-195 mounted parallel thereto on k'the framework 25. The` pulley 1911- is driven by a Adrive-shaft 196 connected with the pulleyshaft 24C.

` The rear end of the apparatus is provided with ari-inclinedk delivery chute 197 comprising the terminal portion of the track-rails 82,

for receiving the mandrels withthe trimmed tubes thereon after the mandrels are released by the lingers 92 at the top of said chute as the chains 83 pass upward around the sprockets Operation i f ln theoperation of the apparatusthe ndrels V21 with the unvulcanized rubber ytubes 22 there-on are delivered to the apparatusy upon the conveyor belt 20,moving in procession in an arial direction thereon..l Each mandrel, 1n: .turnj 1s l impmged against' the yielding buffer-plate 58 which in its backward movement opens the valve 4S and admits pressure-fl id to the cylinder 38. This causes the latter to execute an operative cycle which first causes the arms 7S to be lowered and the mandrel raised from the conveyor belt by the levers 61 and 62, and then causes the push-rods 29 to be projected across the conveyor belt to move the mandrel onto the upper end of the storage chute 77 where it is momentarily held by the arms 7 8. The arms 78 then rise and the mandrel is engaged by the first member 96 of the escapement mechanism.

Successively the escapen'ient members 96, 101, and 107 operate to allow the mandrel intermittently to roll down the storage chute 77 until it is finally held by the yielding arms 114 in position to be engaged by the propelling fingers 92 of the conveyor chain 83. T he speed of the latter is such that they can convey mandrels from the storage-chute faster than the man drels are brought thereto by the conveyor belt 2f), so that congestion of the storage-chute is avoided.

The mandrel is propelled along the trackrails 82 by the fingers 92 which permit the mandrel to rotate on its own axis, and it passes over the electrically heated knives 132- Which score the tube 22 thereon circumferentially adjacent its respective ends, and define surplus portions 22a.

The course of the mandrel carries it beneath the chisels 170 which gouge or scrape the surplus tube stock 22a locally from the mandrel, and then the jaws 171 are closed to grip the scraped-off stock between themselves and the chisels and hold it while the mandrel continues its rolling progress which strips the remainder of the surplus stock from the mandrel. The jaws 171 are then opened and the ejector 189 is depressed to scrape off any surplus tube stock adhering to the chisel 170, said stock falling onto the conveyor' belt 192 and being carried thereon from the apparatus and deposited in a suitable receptacle (not shown).

The trimmed mandrel 21 is released by the fingers 92 as they pass upward around the sprockets 84, and the mandrel rolls by gravity down the inclined chute 197 from which it is manually removed for subsequent treatment.

The apparatus is entirely automatic in operation and universal in its adaptability to trimming tubes of various lengths and diameters. The escapement mechanism operates independently of the kick-off mechanism so that the latter may operate at irregular time intervals.

My invention is susceptible of modification and I do not limit my claims to the exact procedure described or the specific construc- I claim:

1. The method of removing surplus rubber from a supporting form which comprises effecting a translative movement of the form past a surplus-removing position, removing stock locally from the form at said position, and by holding the stock so removed causing the movement of the form to effect the removal ofthe remainder of the surplus stock therefrom.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 in which the movement of the form is uninterrupted throughout.

3. The method of trimming an annular zone of surplus stock from a rubber tube upon a mandrel which comprises engaging and holding a part of the excess stock against movement while effecting uninterrupted rolling movement of the mandrel in a determinate course away from the part so held whereby the surplus stock is concurrently pulled and unwound from the mandrel, the removal of the surplus stock being initiated at the respective ends of the tube in timed succession.

4. The method of trimming an annular zone of surplus stock from a rubber tube upon a mandrel which comprises effecting an uninterrupted translative movement ot the mandrel, circumferentially scoring the tube thereon to define a surplus portion thereof, and then removing said surplus portion from the mandrel, all during the said uninterrupted movement.

5. A method as defined in claim et in which the movement of the mandrel concurrently lateral and rotary.

6. The method of trimming an annular zone of surplus stock from a rubber tube upon a mandrel which comprises continuously rotating a mandrel upon its own axis, scraping some of the surplus tube-stock from the mandrel as it is so rotated, and then holding the scraped-off stock while further rotation of the mandrel unwraps the latter from the remainder of the surplus stock.

7. The method of trimming an annular zone of surplus stock from a rubber tube upon a mandrel which comprises effecting concurrently a lateral, translative, and a rotary movement of the mandrel` circumferentially scoring the tube thereon at its respective ends to define annular surplus portions, scraping some of the surplus portions from the mandrel, and then by holding the' stock so removed thereby causing the movement of the mandrel to effect the removal of the remainder of the surplus stock therefrom.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which the removal of the surplus stock is initiated at the respective ends of the tube in timed succession.

9. In apparatus for trimming an annular zone of surplus stock from a rubber tube upon a mandrel,,thek'combinationY of means for effecting an uninterruptedv translative movement yof the mandrel, means lfor circumferentiall'y'scoring the tube thereonto define surplus portions, and'means `for removing Saidk surplus portions, all ,during said` uninterrupted movement of the mandrel. l

10. Apparatus as defined in claim V9 in which the vtranslative movement of the manfd'rel'is concurrently lateral and rotary.

11.l In apparatus for trimming an annular;

zone of surplus -stock from ,arubber Ltube Yupona mandrel, lthe'combination ofl means Hfor Veffecting the' uninterrupted rotationI of amandrel upon its ownaXis, means for scrapingl some of. theA surplus tube-stock from the mandrel and means'forholding the excess stock. thus removed `while the movement of theemandrel effects the removalof the remainder of rsaidexcess stock.

12. In apparatus lfor trimming an annular zone of surplus stock'from a rubber tube upon a `mandrel, the'v combination of means "for eectingV the uninterrupted lateral, translative and rotary movement of the mandrel,

means for circumferentially scoring kthe tube Y thereon to define surplus portions at the ends f thereof, meansforscraping some of the surplus stock from the mandrel, and means yfor. holding the scraped-olf stock while continued progress of the mandrel removes the remainderof the surplus stock therefrom.

` 13. Apparatus as -dened in claim 12 in whichthe tube-trimming means is'so positioned ,as to initiate they removal of the surplus stockl `from the 'respective' ends of the Y tube in timed succession;

' v f 14.,r Inapparatus forremoving a zoneo jaws Yadapted to engage and hold a portion, fof said surplus rubber, and means' for effecty.

ingrelative movement of the form and `the f gripper jaws such that the surplus stock is re-Y ..moved from'said form by said gripper jaws.Y

surplus rubber from a supporting form, 'they combinationof means for defining a zone of surplus rubber 'on the form, apair of gripper 15. In apparatus for removing a zone of 'surplus rubber from a supportingform, the g combination of scoring mechanism, a'pairof .gripper jaws adjacent thereto, randfmeans for efectingrelative movement of said support-k form, and means kforejectingthe stockthus:

removed from-'said rippernjaws. j 18.- Inapparatus or trimming an annular zone of surplus stockkfrom `a tube upon a mandrel', the combination of means for eecting rotary movement of the mandrel, means for `conc-urrentl scoringboth ends of the tube thereon to de ne annular zones vvof excess stock, and gripper jaws adapted to engage theA r excess stock on` the tube-ends in timed successioni-.to remove saidv stock `during said;

movement of theY mandrel.

' l 19.-.In apparatusfor trimming an annular..`

zone of-surplus stock from arubber-tube upon a mandrel, the combination of means tor.-Y

eiiecting a translative movement of the man- Y drel, a generally stationary jaw member leX- tending to a position adjacent the path of the mandrel fand adapted to scrape somefo the surplus tube-stock therefrom, and a movable'jawassociated with said stationary 4 jaw and vadapted, to cooperate therewith to hold back the scraped-off: stock ywhile further pro.-` f s Vvgress of the mandrel removes the remainder yof thesurplus stock. e 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including means for ej ecting the surplus tubestock from between'the jaw members. 21.y Inapparatus for trimming an annular zone of surplus sto'ckfrom a rubber tube on a mandrel, l.the combination yof tube-trimming;`

mechanism, anda conveyor for carrying mandrelsbinto operative association with said e v tube-trimming mechanism and for actuatingl the latter at determinate time-intervals 22. In apparatus for trimming a rubber` tube ron a mandrehthe combination of tubey trimming mechanism for removing yan annu-VV lar zone oi?` surplus stock from a tube on a mandrel," mechanismv for ejectingsaid vsurplus stock from thetube-trimmin'g mecha-g nism,l and a yconveyor' for carryingmandrels i into operative associationwith the tube trimming mechanism and for actuating .thek latter Y and the ejector mechanism in timed relation oelach other and to the positionyof the man--y re e In witnessl whereof j If have hereunto set my hand this QSrdjday of March, 1928.

L. YOUNG..jvv 1 ingjform, scoring mechanism andy gripper jaws suohasrst to'score the rubberen-said form to dene a zone'` of surplusy stock and lthenLeli'ect thelremoval of the latter by said f 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 and v including Vmeans for ejecting. the, ksurplus stock lfrom the gripper jaws. v

17.` In apparatusefor removing iio jia'cst 

